TEN YEARS? Cannot believe it!!!

My sweet baby is turning 10! I just cannot believe it! When did a DECADE happen. Wait... I don't like calling it a decade. It makes it sound even longer - but quicker! BooBooBear is turning 10 on the 27th. When the heck did that happen?

We have been ELBOWS deep in preparing for her big celebration. We are doing a special Cute Monster birthday bash to celebrate her 10th birthday! We have several surprises in the plans. And we have handmade everything for the kiddos - for their goody bags. No dumb trinkets or silly things that we all just throw out. I've taken several photos as well - so that I could HOPEFULLY post photos of the prep for this special day along with photos from her special day!

Wow... BooBooBear... we are so proud of the young lady you are becoming. We love you so much! Wait till you see everything we have in store for you! I hope you feel super special on your super special day!!!

Exciting News!

One of our creations is being given away on the lovely SUNNY VANILLA'S blog!! Make sure you check it out here!!

Jen from SUNNY VANILLA is celebrating a "blogiversary" - blogging for one year this week! She is a sweetheart and I have loved to getting to know her! Congratulations SUNNY VANILLA! We love you and love your blog and creations!!

Mr Safety Man (hubby) and I are just starting our business and getting it to grow. We love a lot of different mediums for our art forms - mostly concentrating in clay (porcelain, raku), glass, yarn (crocheting/knitting) and textile... thus the reason we're called 'mArrineR's monTage' - creating ART to beautify life!!  We are enjoying every minute of our little store. It's been a dream of mine and Mr Safety Man just jumped in with both feet to help satisfy his artistic side and work alongside me. Our two young daughters LOVE being a part of mArrineR's monTage. It is wonderful to see their artistic personalities blossom while mummy and daddy work on our artwork!!

Welcome to everyone coming from Sunny Vanilla!! We are so happy to have you visit!!
This blog is going through a bit of a transition - but I hope to have a few crafts, goings-on with mArrineR's monTage and musings on life as a mom of two girls!!

Glad you're here!!

I wanna RUN!

It's that time again. The sun is starting to be warmer on my skin. The days are starting to stretch out. Our Live Oak has millions I'd bright green NEW growth leaves. My roses are blooming. I am dying to get outside & really start moving. Get those projects done. Soak up the Vitamin D I want to get this body healthy again. I have started the long road--I went Gluten Free on October 31st, 2011. It was an incredibly HARD thing to do. But through huge encouragement from one of my closest friends & harsh encouragement from my Dr... I did it. And I don't think I will ever go back. Sure I miss bread occasionally or having to ask or research GF recipes/ingredients/if something IS actually GF can be a pain...but I know it's better for my body. But on top of eating better and smarter for me... I want to get outside and... RUN RUN RUN RRRRRRUUUUUUNNNNN! I really miss it. I miss the quietness that comes over me. I miss that alone time I was getting. I miss solving the worlds problems in my head. I miss how it made me feel and the exercise it gave to get my physical self healthier. After the spinal surgery it took SO LONG to recupe...running makes me feel & see how far I've come from (not walking). Why can't I get out there? Nope it's not weather, nor lack of ambition... Just pain. Apparently I did something to my right heel after my 5K in October and it's not healed right or at all. So it's off to the Podiatrist... I just have to get there...

I can at least sit outside & get some of that beautiful sunshine on my skin... For Now!

My Birthday and Saint Valentine's Day two special days - always together!

Mommy & her lil' baby girl - Chewbacca

I can't believe it is February and VALENTINE'S DAY has come and gone and thus my birthday has too! I love this day/month... I love watching everyone celebrate "love" on my birthday! I love having my birthday on Valentine's Day!! I know a lot of people think it's just another day to spend money, a "Hallmark" holiday - but I propose and feel that it's a day to reflect on who we love, care about, and treasure! I mean - sure we should do that every day - but do we?

It's really fun to go to a store and see people pouring over cards, carrying flowers, or even gifts. I loved walking in to my youngest girl's school and seeing all the flowers, cards, and little gifts lining the front desk - to go to teachers. I just think it can't be wrong to celebrate those we love. I did my yearly wear some hue of pink or red until my birthday as usual. And we will be taking the yearly photos of me and the girls - as we do every year - like here in the next few days. Can't wait! I will post them when we do them!


And to everyone whom made my day so incredibly special... I thank you from the bottom of my heart. My immediate family made me feel so special all day long. My little girls are so AMAZINGLY caring and thoughtful. I can't believe how they made me feel. AND NO ARGUING! hahahah
The calls and birthday wishes from family, dear friends, and all who knew it was my birthday.
I LOVE IT! Thank you!!! It's neat sharing a special day with those I love.

Happy Valentine's Day & February

My Sweet Family & Friends!

And here's a few photos of how we celebrated... I even got to learn how to blow glass thanks to a special present from Mr Safety Man!!! Now he's got me hooked!

Girls made their own Valentine's cards - love their creativity!

Shirts I made for Boo's teachers...They're adorable!

I made little mailboxes for special msgs throughout the month!!

First time EVER glass - blowing!

I got to see what I created on my birthday!

Here it is! I am amazed! And proud! Thank you God for helping me create this paperweight. WOW.

We woke up to special marbles/paperweights made by Mr Safety Man for his three girls! WOW! Yes those are hearts in the glass!

Special time with my bunnies and lovely weather!

More special time with my kiddos!

My baby - Chewbacca

Sweet 'Silver Bells' - aka Bella

Heart shapes always show up for me. My sweet lil' angel watching over me

Mr Safety Man made me a glass heart! Now I have his heart!

He surprised me w/something he said wasn't there when he got there!

Beautiful bangle bracelet with amethyst

Little help!

Special GLUTEN FREE - flourless Chocolate cake... so delish!!!

He cracks me up - forgot candles... a bit "homemade..." Can you guess my age?!

And I even got a bit of an activity I have wanted to do! READ with my new chicken!!!

 Wonderful day! I am so glad it's getting warmer out and our Live Oak is finally getting green and it has almost stopped dropping their dead leaves. It just feels to me like everything is waking up and just smiling.

i did it!!

I finally figured out how to change the advanced layout of this lil' ol' blog! YAY! It actually is a great feeling of accomplishment! It's been bugging me for awhile now. NOW to just remember it - for if I want to change things up again?!

Would love some feedback. How's it look? Really. What I see here may or may not look that good elsewhere! I am such a lover of purples and greens and REALLY love damask - so thought this might work!

I have been a bit swamped lately with trying to get some 2011 projects finished. I will get better about updating and maybe get some more photos up here (now that I extended the storage a bit).
BUT the "i did it" title goes along with what I am trying to accomplish!
~ I took a day and just overhauled my bedroom.
Why does this room get pushed to be last ALL the time? The rest of my house has suffered for that day of just overhauling. But now I have a place of peace and tranquility to escape, rest, or just be - again.
~ "i did it" can also be applied to trying to get myself more organized... or rather 'i am doing it'.
~ And there's also getting all those hats crocheted by Christmas.
I think the last count was 24 by Christmas and I've finished up 3 more and almost done with another 3!! WOW!
~ I have also come out of my comfort zone:
   ~~"i did it" with starting an online store- mArrineR's monTage,
   ~~Doing our own "show"/craft fairs,
   ~~Last year saw us in our first physical store with our creations -MUSE GALLERIA,
   ~~And most recently trying to meet and start a new venture at another store with my earrings!

Thank you all who have supported me and our little shop mArrineR's monTage! It's been a whirlwind few months... but we are moving along!

This title means a lot.

Slowly but surely I am doing it... we are doing it...

It's a NEW YEAR!

NEW YEAR & NEW LOOK (finally...)

OK...it's finally time to start updating and get moving on 2012!! Too bad I keep writing 2011...maybe it's denial. I turn the big 38 DOH I mean...39 this February. I spent this whole year thinking I was a year younger... When did this happen?! I mean seriously WHEN did this happen?!!!! Maybe it will go quietly by and we can just forget? Maybe?

Anyway... I hope you (those few that may have read this once in awhile) are still hanging in... Stay tuned!

I am working on an update of the last few months - especially the activity in which our little mArrineR's monTage has been busy and what our family's been up to!! Can't wait to share!
For now I leave you with these lovely words...I love this quote...It's gotten me to think about a lot in the last few weeks... HAPPY 2012!